The Gujarat government has unveiled a landmark budget for the fiscal year 2026-27, totaling a massive ₹408,052.87 Crores. Following the “Reform Express” roadmap and the “Viksit Bharat @ 2047” vision, the budget emphasizes “Ease of Living,” “Ease of Doing Business,” and substantial tax relief for citizens. The state projects a healthy revenue surplus of ₹25,586 Crores for the upcoming year.
Education and Infrastructure Lead Sectoral Spending
The budget continues to prioritize human capital and infrastructure. The Education Department has been allocated ₹63,183.58 Crores, accounting for 15.48% of the total budget. The Finance Department receives the largest allocation at ₹108,363.22 Crores (26.56%). Other major allocations include:
- Urban Development and Urban Housing: ₹33,503.60 Crores (8.21%)
- Roads and Buildings: ₹29,709.62 Crores (7.28%)
- Health and Family Welfare: ₹25,403.23 Crores (6.23%)
- Agriculture, Farmers Welfare & Co-operation: ₹24,022.12 Crores (5.89%)
GST 2.0: ₹11,000 Crore Relief and Business Reforms
In a major push for economic growth, the state is implementing “Next-Gen” GST 2.0 reforms. These changes are expected to provide an estimated ₹11,000 Crore in tax relief to the people of Gujarat in a single year. Key business reforms include:
- Faster Refunds: To maintain liquidity for businesses, the government now provides a provisional refund of 80% of tax amounts within just seven days.
- Rapid Registration: Small and medium industries with a monthly tax liability up to ₹2.5 lakh can now obtain a GST number in only three working days.
- National Leadership: Gujarat ranks first in the country for GST return filing discipline and has seen a 12% growth in GST collections, with the number of registered taxpayers rising to 13.96 lakh.
Green Growth and Environmental Initiatives
Supporting the vision for “Green Growth,” the government has extended the tax rebate for electric vehicles (EVs) for another year. This 5% rebate (resulting in an effective tax rate of 1%) is set to provide an additional ₹210 Crore relief to citizens while encouraging eco-friendly transportation.
GST Biometric & Docu Verification Services in 6 More Cities
To further simplify registration, the state is expanding biometric and document verification facilities. Following a successful launch in Jamnagar, these services will be extended to Anand, Bharuch, Morbi, Surendranagar, Bhuj, and Patan.
With an overall estimated net surplus of ₹1,184 Crores for 2026-27, the state government aims to maintain Gujarat’s rapid development trajectory while ensuring the benefits of growth reach every citizen.
Source from: https://deshgujarat.com/2026/02/18/gst-bio-metric-verification-in-5-more-cities-in-gujarat-tax-rebate-on-ev-extended/
